New Delhi:
The BJP is in no mood to back off from its controversial Ekta Yatra. Even after the Prime Minister's intervention and strong words from the Omar Abdullah government, the party plans to hold its tricolour hoisting ceremony in Srinagar, calling the Government's move a 'disproportionate and panic reaction'.
After repeated attacks on the BJP by the Government, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley asked, "Is hoisting national flag a provocative issue?"
Also, rejecting the Prime Minister's statement on the BJP Yatra, Jaitley said, "We condemn the move of the Government in repressing the Yatra... I have been told that all borders into J&K are blocked, trains carrying activists being cancelled, diverted... BJP Yatra has been absolutely peaceful." (Watch: Route to Lal Chowk)
Speaking to the press in New Delhi Jaitley also remarked the government is using 'undemocratic methods' to stop the Yatra. "No penal action has been taken against separatists... separatists' meet was called expression of free speech... Government is psychologically surrendering to separatists... we are not apologetic about hoisting the national flag," added Jaitley.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stepped into the raging controversy. In a hard-hitting statement, the PM had said, "The Republic Day is not an occasion to score political points or promote divisive agendas. I call upon all concerned to observe maximum restraint in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir." (Read: Don't promote a divisive agenga- PM's appeal)
Reacting to the Prime Minister's remarks in his blog, senior BJP Leader LK Advani wrote, "I wish the PM realises that these young men led by Anurag Thakur are not trying to score a political point; they are challenging the separatists. And the State is surrendering to them!'
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, police arrested BJP's state vice president Sofi Yousuf on Saturday night and six other workers were arrested earlier in the day for violating prohibitory orders as they were distributing Yatra posters at Lal Chowk.
A train filled with 2000 BJP activists bound for Jammu was also sent back to Karnataka from Ahmadnagar on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. (Read: Train with BJP activists sent back)
The railway officials changed the engine of the train at 2.15 am, while most passengers were asleep, to change its route and send it back to Karnataka.
After repeated attacks on the BJP by the Government, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley asked, "Is hoisting national flag a provocative issue?"
Also, rejecting the Prime Minister's statement on the BJP Yatra, Jaitley said, "We condemn the move of the Government in repressing the Yatra... I have been told that all borders into J&K are blocked, trains carrying activists being cancelled, diverted... BJP Yatra has been absolutely peaceful." (Watch: Route to Lal Chowk)
Speaking to the press in New Delhi Jaitley also remarked the government is using 'undemocratic methods' to stop the Yatra. "No penal action has been taken against separatists... separatists' meet was called expression of free speech... Government is psychologically surrendering to separatists... we are not apologetic about hoisting the national flag," added Jaitley.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had stepped into the raging controversy. In a hard-hitting statement, the PM had said, "The Republic Day is not an occasion to score political points or promote divisive agendas. I call upon all concerned to observe maximum restraint in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir." (Read: Don't promote a divisive agenga- PM's appeal)
Reacting to the Prime Minister's remarks in his blog, senior BJP Leader LK Advani wrote, "I wish the PM realises that these young men led by Anurag Thakur are not trying to score a political point; they are challenging the separatists. And the State is surrendering to them!'
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, police arrested BJP's state vice president Sofi Yousuf on Saturday night and six other workers were arrested earlier in the day for violating prohibitory orders as they were distributing Yatra posters at Lal Chowk.
A train filled with 2000 BJP activists bound for Jammu was also sent back to Karnataka from Ahmadnagar on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. (Read: Train with BJP activists sent back)
The railway officials changed the engine of the train at 2.15 am, while most passengers were asleep, to change its route and send it back to Karnataka.
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